Expansible band or bracelet



Dec. 17, 1929. -c. H. KESTENMAN 1,739,722

EXPANSIBLE BAND OR BRACELET Filed Jan. 1o, 1927 Patented Dec. 17, 1929ii f UTE

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE-ISLAND; AssneNoRaio'KEsrENi/inn BRos. MFG. or PROVIDENCE RHODE I'sLAN-D EXPANSIBLE :BANDOR' BRAGEIET Application ined January 1o, 1927. seriaino. 160,235.

This invention relates to improvements in expansible metal bands, chainsor linkages for use as articles of jewelry, such as bracelets,necklaces, girdles and the like.

, A principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedarticleof manufacture of the type specified comprising articulated linksor chain-elements which are adapted `to flex, one in relationtoanothenand to slide 1gv longitudinally relatively to each other to allowexpansion in the length of the bracelet or other article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible band, chainor linkage in which the individual links may be easily disconnected anddetached to shorten the bracelet or other article and to permit theinsertion of additional links to lengthen it.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of the typespecified in which the links may be constructed from sheet-metal blanksstruck up in dies and assembled in interconnected relation without theuse of pivots, rivets or soldered joints.

Another object of the invention is yto provide an article of the typespecified which is more economical to manufacture, of strongerconstruction and proof against breakage or i damage in use.

Further objects of the improvement are setforth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general appearance of theband or linkage as adapted for use as a watch-bracelet and showing itwith its links in contracted andfflexed relation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan View showing several of the connectedlinks and illustrating a portion thereof in sectionto disclose theresilient expansion-means enclosed therein;

' of onev of the links taken on line 4 4 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of several of the links with two of themshown in secthe two parts ofthe main link;

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewy showingthe two parts of the main linkbefore they lare assembled in connected relation; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing `the two parts of the slidev linkbefore assembling.

My improvedy band, chain or linkage consists in general of a series ofmain elements or outer link-members 2of the boxlt'ypeassembl'ed withinner connecting-links or slides 3 `which are telescoped within the mainlinks and held in contracted relation by resilient means, such as thesprings .4,to adapt them to be: extended to provide lfor the eX"-pansion `of the band or chain as a whole. The main links 2,shown ininverted positionV in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, comprise relativelyflatAtop-plates 6 with sides 7 bent Adownwardly therefromand folded inwardlyvto provide` the right-angled bottom-strips or flanges-8'.

Assembled with each outer or main link 2 is a rectangular frame10,shown. in detail in Fig. 5.y The frame 10is constructed'fromVV arelatively narrow stripof. sheet-metal bent into U-shape with an end-baror cross-strip 11V formed to slightly less width than its sidestrips 12.The two side-strips 12 are connected at their opposite ends arelatively` narrow cross-bar 13 which may have its ends reduced incross-section and inserted through holes 14 inthe side-strips. v

As one feature .of the present improvement the inner frame 10 visypermanently joined to Y the outer enclosing link 2A by a novel andingenious arrangement of'structure asneXt described. Referring to Figs.2, 3 and 5, they side-stripsv 12 are indented orformed. with notches ontheir upper edges, which may con-` veniently be of V-shape. The frame 10is placed within the outer link 3 with its sidestrips 12 abutting theVsides 7 thereofV andY underlying the bottom flanges 8 when lthe linkis-in inverted position asv shown in Figs. V and 4. The bottom-strips oriianges 8` are then indented by striking them with a suitabletool,either by'hand or'in a press, to project the metal into the notches15,see Fig. 4, thus providing ari-interlocking connection betweenthe'parts. Thisy indentation -of the flanges 8 may be made with a punch,

the depressions on the bottom of the flanges 8 being slight andinconspicuous so that they do not detract from the linished appearanceof the link. The frame 10 is thus fastened to the sides of the outerlink 2 with its end cross-bar 11 projecting across the open end of themain link at a slight distance outwardly therefrom to form a bailadapted to receive the hook on the next telescoping link of the series.

The inner slide link 3 is constructed in two parts of substantially thesame form as disclosed in my copending application for United StatesLetters Patent Serial No. 125,233, filed July 27, 1926. As shown mostclearly in Figs. 3 and 6, the main portion of the inner link 3 consistsof a fiat top-plate 18 formed at one end with a curved beak or hook 21,and at its opposite end with a crossstrip or iange 22, bent` atright-angles to its top-portion. The other cooperating part of the slidelink comprises a plate-like tongue 23 bent over at its endl to form alateral flange 24. The ends of the flange 24 are reduced in width toprovide ears 26 which are adapted to slide in under the bottom flanges 8on the main link 2. The two parts of the slide link 3 are assembled withthe lateral flange 24 on the tongue 23 abutting the side of the strip orfiange 22 on the topplate 18, the opposite free end of the tongue 23being held under the edge of the hook or beak 21 in the manner shown inFig. 3. A flattened helical spring 4 is assembled within the slide link3 with one end bearing against the lateral flange 24 to hold it againstthe cross-strip 22 while also maintaining the free end of the tongue 23pressed against the under edge of the hook 21. As shown in Figs. 2 and-3, the opposite end of the spring 4 bears against the cross-bar 13v ofthe frame 10, which is assembled in the main link`2, and thus acts tohold the slide link 3 telescoped within the outer link 2 in the mannerillustrated by the showing of the center link in Figs. 2 and 3.

The several cooperating parts of the outer and inner links are assembledin the manner as next explained: The frame 1() is inserted between thesides 7 of the main link 2 with the bottom-strips 8 overlying the edgesof the side-strips 12 having notches 15. The frame 1() is positionedrelative to the main link 2 so that the ends of the side-strips 12carrying the cross-bar 13 are set inwardly beyond one end of the sides 7as shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end of the frame 10 projects beyond theends of the sides 7 of the link'2 so that thevcroSs-strip 11 is spacedslightly away therefrom to form a bail for connection with the hook onthe. next adjacent slide link of the chain or linkage. After the twoparts of the main link 2 have been assembled in this manner they arepermanently fastened together in the manner as previously explained.

The inner slide link 3 is assembled with the outer or main link 2 byhooking its cross-strip 22 in under the cross-bar 13 and then slidingthe plate 18 back into the position illustrated by the showing of thecenter link in Figs. 2 and 4. Preferably, the top-plate 18 constitutingthe main element of the slide link 3 has its hooked end 21 only partlyformed previous to the assembling of the parts of the link. That is tosay, the hook 21 is bent upwardly from the plate 18 but not curled overto the form shown in Fig. 6. The purpose of this is to permit theplacing of the tongue 23 in cooperative relation with the hook 21. rlhetongue 23 is assembled in place by canting it sidewise with respect tothe main link 2 where by to insert the ears 26 on its flange 24 in underthe flanges 8 onthe main link. After the ears 26 have been inserted inplace the flange 24 is slid back against the cross-strip 22 on thetop-plate 18 and the spring 4 is inserted under the tongue 23. As shownin Figs. 2 and 3, one end of the spring 4 will thus be caused to bearagainst the inner face of the flange 24 with its other end pressedagainst the cross-bar 13 of the frame 10 held within the sides of themain link 2. The beak of the hook 21 is then bent down or curled over tooverlap the end of the tongue 23 to hold all of the several parts inassembled relation. Through this arrangement of the parts the flange 24of the tongue 23 will be held in abutting relation with the cross-strip22 on the vtop-plate 18 and maintained in place by the ears 26 engagedin under the bottom flanges 8; it being understood that the ends of thecross-strip 22 also engage under the bottom-flanges 8 to hold thecomplete inner link 3 in place within the outer link 2 while adapting itto slide longitudinally with respect thereto.

After each pair of outer and inner links have been assembled in themanner as above explained they are connectedV together in a chain orlinkage by engaging the hooks 21 on the inner slide links 3 with thecross-bars or bails 11 at the ends of the outer llinks 2. The couplingof the llinks is accomplished by drawing the slide link 3 outwardly asshown at the right in Figs. 2 and 3 against the tension of the spring 4.When the inner slide link 3 is drawn out in this manner thecompressionof the spring 4 will permit the tongue 23`to be rocked orcanted away from the hook 21 so that the cross-bar or bail 11 can behooked thereinto. A series of links may thus be assembled to form anydesired length of chain or to provide a bracelet, necklace girdle orother article of jewelry. When the links are assembled to form a watchbracelet two sections of link are used with a narrower con# necting-link2O joining the sections together as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite endsof the two sections are usually connected to clasps izo v constructionof the Vouter or main link 2 of the band or linkage. Itwill be observedthat through the present improvement the outer or main link is ofexceedingly simple structure and is adapted for economical manufacturethrough the elimination of the usual pivots, rivets or soldered joints.Moreover, the two parts of the main link may be assembled by a simpleoperation, the parts being joined together by indenting the metal of onepart to form projections engaging suitable notches in the other part andproviding a firm and stable construction not liable to damage orbreakage in use.

l/Vhile I have described and illustrated the device as embodied in apreferred form of construction it is obvious that changes may be made inthe shape and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention.

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

l. In an expansible band, chain or linkage, the combination of outerlinks having relatively fiat top portions, sides bent downwardlytherefrom and fol-ded inwardly to form bottoni-flanges, a substantiallyrectangular rigid frame inserted between the sides of the outer link andformed with notches in the edges of its side members, said frame rigidlysecured within the outer link by indenting the metal of thebottom-flanges to engage the notches in the sides of the frame, and asliding link fitted to slide between the sides of the main link andadapted for connection with the frame inthe next adjacent main link of aseries.

2. An improved construction of link for expansible bands, chains orlinkages comprising an outer member having a relatively flat top portionwith sides bent downwardly therefrom' and folded inwardly to formbottom-flanges, an inner rigid frame having side-strips adapted to abutthe sides of the outer member and formed with notches in their edges andcross-bars at the ends of its side-strips, said frame being rigidly heldin position in the outer link with one of its cross-bars extendingacross the end thereof in spaced relation thereto by indenting the metalfrom the bottom-flanges to form projections engaging the notches in thesides of the frame, and a connecting link slidable within the outer linkand adapted for connection with the next adjacent link of a series.

3. An improved construction of link for bands, chains or linkagescomprising an outer member having a top-plate with sides bent downwardlytherefrom and folded 'inwardly at the bottom to form longitudinalianges, an inner U-shaped rigid frame having its sides arranged inabutting relation with respect to the sides of the outer member andprovided with recesses in their edges engaged by projections on theouter member formed by indenting the metal of the bottom-flanges wherebyto rigidly and permanently secure the two parts in fixed relation and aconnecting link slidable in the outer member an-d adapted for connectionwith the next adjacent link of a series.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.`

